It occurs throughout North America, from southern British Columbia to Nova Scotia southwards to Arizona and Florida.

The species is distasteful and there is evidence that it emits aposematic ultrasound signals; these may also jam bat echolocation, as the functions are not mutually exclusive.

It is a common feeder on Apocynum cannabinum (dogbane, Indian hemp) which produces a milky latex containing cardenolides, toxic cardiac glycoside that defend against herbivores.

[1] It also feeds on milkweed species, Asclepias, at least in parts of its range, but is most commonly reported from dogbane.

Adults have white wings with a buttery yellow margin along the front of the forewing; the legs are black.

[7] They did not rule out a jamming function for the calls, however, and Ratcliffe and Fullard noted 20% of these native bats aborted attacks on the moth.